NEIL JENKINS last night revealed his biggest regret from a star-studded rugby career was that regional rugby has come too late for him.

NEIL JENKINS last night revealed his biggest regret from a star-studded rugby career was that regional rugby has come too late for him.

Test rugby's highest points-scorer and Wales' most capped player has just this season to achieve his dream of European glory before going into retirement.

His spell in the limelight stretches back to the spring of 1990 when he made his debut for Pontypridd. But the furthest he has travelled in the Heineken Cup was to quarter-finals with Ponty and Cardiff.

His 78th minute conversion of a penalty try eight days ago gave Celtic Warriors a nail-biting 16-15 victory over Perpignan and a chance of reaching the knockout stage.

Jenkins insists, irrespective of whether the Bridgend and Glamorgan valleys regions reaches the last eight, within a couple of years, Welsh teams will consistently be challenging for European glory.

"At the end of the day the disappointing fact is that provincial rugby in Wales has arrived too late for me," he said.

"I would love it to have been in place when I started playing. Already, it has brought quality rugby throughout the season.

"The structure we have in place now is brilliant. We have already seen the benefits. Ourselves at the Warriors have done reasonably well. So have Llanelli Scarlets, Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues.

"The Blues could have won four matches in Europe.

"The only game they were probably properly beaten was out in Biarritz. As far as I am concerned, we have shown great improvement, virtually across the board.

"The only disappointing team has been the Ospreys, but I am sure they will get better as time goes on.

"It would be nice, if we at the Warriors, go through to the quarter-finals. Everyone's dream is to go on and win the Heineken Cup. It would be a great way for me to finish. It's now or never."

Jenkins believes the transition from club to province had to occur in Wales because of limited player and financial resources. He insists the Heineken Cup is a valid measure of how much rugby has grown and improved in Europe since the inaugural tournament of 1995-96.

"It has improved hugely," he said. "When we first started ... I can remember being up against a Milan side which included Diego Dominguez ... there was 12 teams, four pools and just two group games before you were into a semis

"Now it is a massive event. It has evolved into a fantastic tournament. There used to be gimmes but not any more.

"As we have seen in our group, Calvisano have done really well. We were 20 points up against them at home but only led 22-20 at half-time.

"They scored 33 points at home against Wasps and Perpignan struggled to beat them 17-11 . The more exposure Italian rugby has to Euro rugby the stronger it is going to get.

"Rugby has to move on if it is to become a world-wide game. The more nations competitive at the top level the better it is going to be. I really believe great days are ahead."